Removable lock with improved retainer



Sept. 1, 1970 E. N. JACOB! REMOVABLE LOCK WITH IMPROVED RETAINER 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1968 Sept. 1, 1970 E. N. JACOBl 3,526,111

REMOVABLE LOCK WITH IMPROVED RETAINER Filed July 15, 1968 I3Shoots-Sheet :3

Edward 4.720052 Patented Sept. 1, 1970 US. Cl. 70-368 4 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE The assembled cylinder and lock case of a keycontrolled tumbler lock is removably held in position in the structurewith which the lock is associated by a crescent shaped retainerpivotally mounted in a transverse slot in the inner end portion of thelock case. In the operative projected position of the retainer asubstantial part of its arcuate outer edge portion projects from theside of the lock case to engage a rearwardly facing shoulder on themounting structure. A finger on the retainer projects into thecylinder-receiving bore of the lock case to be engaged by a rod-liketool inserted into the cylinder from its front end alongside the key sothat rotation of the cylinder by its key with the tool in place retractsthe retainer to free the lock for removal.

This invention relates to key controlled cylinder locks of the typewidely used in automobiles, and has as its purpose to provide improvedmeans for removably securing such locks in their mounting structures.

SUMMARY The invention is concerned with key controlled tumbler locks;and, more specifically, with improved retainer means for removablysecuring such locks in a mounting member or housing which may be part ofthe steering column of an automobile, in which case the lock may serveto secure both the steering shaft and the ignition switch againstmanipulation.

The invention resides in the provision of improved means for removablysecuring the lock in its mounting member, which comprises a retractableretainer protruding from the side of the lock case to engage arearwardly facing shoulder on the mounting member, the retainer having afinger projecting into the bore of the lock case, which upon movement inone direction, retracts the retainer, and means by which a motiontransmitting connection can be effected between the cylinder and saidfinger, through which connection rotation of the cylinder in onedirection by a proper key and through a predetermined segment of itsrange of rotation moves the finger in the direction to retract theretainer and free the lock for removal.

The retainer is a fiat crescent-shaped member pivotally mounted in atransverse slot in the rear end portion of the lock case and isyieldingly biased to project a substantial part of its arcuate outeredge portion beyond the side of the lock case.

A particular feature of the invention resides in the fact that theretainer is retracted through the conjoint action of a proper key and arod-like tool inserted into a longitudinally extending passage in thelock cylinder. When thus inserted, the tool has its inner end portionpositioned to collide with one edge of the finger on the retainer, Byvirtue of the shape of this edge of the finger, the movement of the toolaround the axis of the cylinder as the cylinder is turned through asegment of its full range of rotation, cams the finger out of its wayand rocks the retainer on its pivot to retract the same below thesurface of the lock body.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of cooperatingabutments on the retainer and the lock cylinder which, by theirengagement, prevent movement of the retainer to its retracted positionthroughout all but that segment of the range of rotation of the cylinderduring which rotation of the cylinder with the lock removing tool inplace, effects retraction of the retainer.

A significant advantage of the invention resides in the fact that byvirtue of the nature and design of the retainer, its location is notlimited to one side of the lock. This permits the retainer to be moststrategically positioned in the mounting structure from, the standpointof gaining utmost security against attack by drilling or cutting intothe accessible portions of the mounting structure; and since authorizedremoval of the lock is effected from the front, the increased securityis achieved without sacrificing convenience.

In summary, therefore, the purpose and object of this invention is toprovide improved means for removably securing a key controlled tumblerlock in position, which combines convenience in effecting legitimateremoval of the lock with exceptional security against its unauthorizedremoval.

With these observations and objects in mind, the manner in which theinvention achieves its purpose will be appreciated from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings. This disclosure is intendedmerely to exemplify the invention. The invention is not limited to theparticular structure disclosed, and changes can be made therein whichlie within the scope of the appended claims without departing from theinvention.

The drawings illustrate two complete examples of the physicalembodiments of the invention constructed according to the best modes sofar devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, andin which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lock embodying thisinvention, with the lock case and cylinder of the lock shown in phantom,and with the retractable retainer removed from the lock case, said viewillustrating the key and lock removing tool in cooperative relation foreffecting removal of the lock;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the rear end portion ofthe lock on the plane of its keyway and with part of its cylinder inelevation and a part thereof in section;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are cross sectional views through FIG. 2 on the planeof the line 33, respectively illustrating the retainer in its projectedposition, in the act of being retracted, and in its fully retractedposition; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating a slightly modifiedembodiment of the invention.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 5designates the lock case of a key controlled cylinder lock. As iscustomary, the lock case is preferably a die casting and has a bore 6 inwhich the cylinder 7 of the lock is rotatably received. As is alsocustomary, the cylinder and the lock case have cooperating pin tumblers8 and drivers 9, by which the cylinder is secured against rotationexcept when the proper key 10 is inserted. The inner or rear end of thelock cylinder protrudes beyond the adjacent end of the lock case and hasan eccentrically positioned driver 11 or other means thereon by whichrotation of the cylinder actuates the mechanism controlled by the lock.This may be the contactor of an ignition switch, a locking bolt forsecuring a steering shaft against rotation, or both. However, since theinvention is not concerned with the mechanism controlled by the lock, noeffort has been made to illustrate the environment of the lock duringuse thereof except by way of indicating the mounting structure or bodymember 12 in which the lock is mounted. This mounting structure ormember has a cylindrical hole 13 into which the 3 lock case is inserted.Suitable means (not shownbut which may be a flange on the front endportion of the lock case) limits insertion of the lock case into thehole 13.

Outward displacement and hence removal of the lock from the hole 13 inthe mounting structure is controllably prevented by a retainer 14 whichprojects from the cylindrical boundary of the lock case at a selectedside thereof, to engage a rearwardly facing shoulder 15 on the mountingstructure. Preferably the shoulder 15 is one side of an annular grooveformed in the mounting structure and opening to its hole 13.

The retainer or retaining member 14 is a fiat crescentshaped stamping,which is received in a fiat sided slot 16 in the lock case. The slot 16communicates with the bore 6 in the lock caseand in fact encompasses thesame and opens to the cylindrical boundary or side of the lock casethrough a substantial part of its circumference. The width of the slot16 is such that its opposite flat sides snugly but slidably receive theflat sided retainer therebetween.

Fulcrum means indicated generally by the numeral 17, pivotally orrockably mounts the retainer in the slot 16. It is to be noted that thelocation of the fulcrum 17, though medially of the ends of thecrescent-shaped retainer is closer to one end thereof than the other. Aspring 18 confined between a spring seat 19 on the lock case and aspring seat 20 on the longer end of the crescent shaped retaineryieldingly urges the retainer about its fulcrum 17 to a position shownin FIG. 3 in which a substantial part of its arcuate outer edge portionprojects beyond the cylindrical boundary of the lock case and into thegroove in the mounting structure which provides the shoulder 15. Hence,in its operative projected position, the crescent-shaped retainer has aconsiderable area thereof interlocking with the mounting structure toresist outward or forward displacement of the lock.

The spring 18 is conveniently held in place by being received in asocket 23 formed by opposite recesses 24 in the sides of the slot 16.

The outer edge of the retainer is curved on a radius substantially equalto that of the cylindrical boundary of the lock case, and the fulcrum orpivot 17 is so located that when the retainer is in its retractedposition shown in FIG. 5, no portion thereof protrudes from the mouth ofthe slot 16.

Although the fulcrum 17 may be provided by a pin driven into a well inthe lock case and passing through a hole in the retainer, it preferablyconsists of a V-shaped notch 21 in the outer edge of the retainer and atriangular bridge 22 across the slot 16. The bridge 22 is an integralpart of the lock case and its outer face forms a continuation of thecylindrical boundary of the lock case. Its sides converge to provide asharply defined edge which engages the *bottom of the V-shaped notch 21.To accommodate rocking movement of the retainer, the notch 21 is widerthan the bridge 22.

The shorter end portion of the crescent-shaped retainer is formed withan inwardly directed finger 25 which pro jects into the bore 6 in thelock case; and to accommodate the finger 25, the adjacent portion of thecylinder has a laterally opening cavity 26. This cavity is of such sizeand shape that in all positions of rotation of the cylinder throughoutits entire range of travel, which in a customary lock is about 100, thefinger 25 is accommodated so that its presence in the bore 6' in nowiseinterferes with rotation of the cylinder in the performance of itsnormal functions.

However, when it is desired to remove the lock from its mountingstructure, the finger 25 becomes part of a novel motion transmittingconnection between the cylinder and the retainer through which rotationof the cylinder in one direction and through a predetermined segment ofits range of rotation elfects retraction of the retainer. The other partof this motion transmitting connection comprises a rod-like tool 30,which may be s mply a stiff wire, and a longitudinally extendingpassageway 31 in the lock cylinder, into which the tool is inserted andby which it is held against lateral displacement with respect to thecylinder. The passageway 31 which leads from the front end of thecylinder to the cavity 26, is parallel to but spaced from the axis ofthe cylinder. Hence, as the cylinder is turned, the inner end portion ofthe tool which projects into the cavity 26, moves in an arcuate path,which intersects the finger 25. Thus, as the cylinder is turned, theinner end portion of the tool collides with or engages the inner edge 32of the retainer and thereby provides a motion imparting connectionbetween the cylinder and the retainer. By virtue of this connection,rotation of the cylinder from its locked position shown in FIG. 3 towardthe position shown in FIG. 5 (which may be the Accessory On position inthe case of an automobile ignition lock) the retainer is cammed orrocked about its fulcrum in the direction to retract the same.

In a sense, therefore, the edge 32 of the retainer and, morespecifically, its finger 25, constitutes an inclined cam surface alongwhich the tool rides during the retainer-disabling rotation of thecylinder. To assure maximum mechanical advantage and easily overcome anytransient resistance there might be to retraction of the retainer, theportion 32a of this inclined cam, which is initially engaged by thetool, presents a gradual slope, while the portion 3212, which is engagedduring the final range of cylinder rotation, is more steeply inclined toachieve the degree of rocking motion needed to retract the retainer.

For ease of production, it is preferable to have the passageway 31contiguous to the keyway, and simply a lateral enlargement thereof,though it could be spaced therefrom. In any event, however, the locationof the passageway with respect to the axis of the cylinder, and theshape of the inner edge 32 of the retainer must be so correlated thatwith the cylinder in its locked key-inserting and withdrawing positionof rotation shown in FIG. 3, the inner end portion of the tool will becontiguous to the bottom of the incline 32a.

As noted hereinbefore, an added feature of the invention resides in theprovision of means for preventing movement of the retainer to itsretracted position in all positions of rotation of the cylinder exceptthose it occupies during rotation through that segment of its range ofrotation in which the retainer can be retracted by means of the tool 30.To achieve this security, the long end of the crescent-shaped retainerhas an inwardly directed enlargement or pad 35 so shaped and located asto collide with the adjacent side of the lock cylinder, and morespecifically with the outer cylindrical side surface of that part 36 ofthe cylinders cross section left by the cavity 26. However, as soon asrotation of the cylinder from its locked position and towards it lockremoving position is begun, the pad 35 on the retainer moves into thecavity 26 in the cylinder, as indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Though it is preferable to provide the lock with the added securityafforded by the means for preventing movement of the retainer to itsretracted position except as just described, the major advantages of theinvention are attainable with a structure such as that shown in FIG. 6which does not employ retainer locking means. In all other respects thestructure of FIG. 6 is the same as that described.

It is, of course, also to be understood that conventional meansindicatedonly generally by the numeral 37 is provided to removably retain thecylinder assembled with the lock case.

From the foregoing description taken with the accompanying drawings, itwill be apparent to those skilled in this art that this inventionprovides improved means for removably securing a cylinder lock inposition in its mounting structure, which is characterized byexceptional security and ease of removal when authorized removal is tobe made.

What is claimed as my invention is:

1. In a key controlled cylinder lock wherein a cylinder is rotatablyreceived in the bore of a lock case to have a range of rotation therein,and key controlled means secures the cylinder against rotation untilinsertion of a proper key into the keyway of the cylinder,

means for removably securing the lock in a mounting member having a holein which the lock case is received, said means comprising (A) aretractable retainer member yieldingly projecting from the side of thelock case near the rear end thereof, for engagement with an adjacentrearwardly facing shoulder on the mounting member,

said retainer member having a finger projecting into the bore in thelock case by which the retainer member can be retracted to free the lockfor removal, the portion of the cylinder adjacent to the retainer memberbeing reduced in cross section and so shaped as to accommodate saidfinger throughout the range of rotation of the cylinder; and (B) thecylinder having a longitudinally extending passageway spaced from theaxis of rotation of the cylinder and leading from its front end to itsportion of reduced cross section into which a tool may be inserted andby which a tool thus inserted is held with a portion thereof in positionto collide with a surface on said finger during rotation of the cylinderin one direction by means of a proper key and thereby retract theretainer member and free the lock for removal,

said surface of the finger being shaped to present to the tool as it iscarried around the axis of the cylinder during lock removing rotation ofthe cylinder, an inclined cam of gradual inclination followed bysubstantially steeper inclination, so that any resistance to initialretracting motion of the retainer member is moreeasily overcome.

2. The lock of claim 1, wherein the lock case has a cylindrical outerboundary,

wherein the retainer member is crescent shaped,

wherein fulcum means connects the crescent shaped, re-

tainer member with the lock case for rocking motion of the retainermember about an axis spaced inwardly of the outer boundary of the lockcase and medially of but closer to one of the ends of the crescentshaped retainer member than the other,

wherein spring means reacting between the lock case and the retainermember rocks the latter about its fulcrum in the direction to projectthe outer edge portion of its longer end beyond the side of the lockcase,

wherein the lock case has a flat sided slot in one side thereofcommunicating with the bore and debouching to its cylindrical boundary,the flat sides of said slot being normal to the axis of the lock,

wherein the crescent shaped retainer member is received in said slot andhas fiat opposite faces slidingly engaging the fiat sides of the slot,and

wherein said fulcrum means comprises a V-shaped notch in the outer edgeof the crescent shaped retainer member, and a bridge across said slot inthe lock case having a sharply defined edge facing the axis of the lockand engaging the bottom of the V- shaped notch in the retainer member.

3. The lock of claim 2, wherein said bridge is an integral part of thelock case and has an outer curved sur-- face that forms a continuationof the cylindrical boundary of the lock case, and convergent sides thejunction of which defines said sharply defined edge.

4. The lock of claim 2, wherein the sides of said slot have opposedrecesses adjacent to the portion of the slot occupied by the longer endportion of the crescent shaped retainer member, to provide a springsocket, and

wherein said spring means is a coil spring seated in said socket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,761,092 6/1930 Shinn 3682,059,696 11/1936 Jacobi 70-368 2,141,748 12/1938 Hansen 7038 2,150,6393/1939 Simon 70364 3,410,123 11/1968 Jacobi 70-364 3,434,316 3/1969Neary 70371 RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner R. L. WOLF, AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R. 70371

